KSP Initial Reports Show Highway Fatalities Declined in 2009

From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighHighway fatalities in Kentucky were apparently on the decline last year.Preliminary statistics released by Kentucky State Police indicate 771 people lost their lives on state highways last year. That’s 55 fewer fatalities than in 2008.Six-hundred-28 of the deaths involved motor vehicles and 346 of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Forty pedestrians, five bicyclists and a person riding a motor scooter were also killed.Eighty fatalities involved motorcyclists and 45 of those riders were not wearing helmets. Seventeen deaths involved All Terrain Vehicles. Fifteen of those riders were not wearing helmets.At least 160 of the fatal crashes involved the suspected use of alcohol.